Posted by eporter on November 26, 2024
Tips to Help Matches Thrive at the Mid-Point of Their Mentoring Relationships
The lifecycle of many mentoring relationships follows the schedule of the academic year, with mentoring relationships beginning when the school year begins and closing as the school year ends. This means that many matches have now reached the halfway point or “mid-point” of their mentoring relationship.
Below, we have outlined some tips for program staff and for mentors who have reached the mid-point in the lifecycle of their relationship with their mentee, so they can continue creating a positive, impactful experiences for mentees.
Why is this stage of the mentoring relationship important?
Many mentors spend time preparing for or receiving training on how to successfully begin and end their mentoring relationship; however, mentors and program staff should not underestimate the effort and preparation it also takes to grow and maintain mentoring relationships. The early months of the mentoring relationship are typically a time for matches to build trust and get to know one another. The time after this early phase may be considered the heart of the mentoring relationship because it is a time for mentor and mentees to build on their strong foundation and continue to grow together.
The mid-point of the relationship can also be a turning point for many matches. By remaining motivated and focusing on the mentee’s goals at this stage of the relationship, mentors can accelerate their mentee’s growth and take their relationship to new levels. However, it may be easy for mentors to lose motivation to prioritize their relationship after months of meeting together, which can ultimately cause the relationship to dissolve. Therefore, the mid-point of the mentoring relationship is an important time for mentors to reprioritize their mentoring relationship for their mentee’s benefit.
Circle back to original motivations for mentoring.
The mid-point of the mentoring relationship is a great time to think back to the beginning of the relationship. Remembering the reasons they originally chose to become a mentor may motivate mentors to make more conscious decisions to actively participate in their relationship. By holding support meetings with mentors, program staff can help mentors recognize ways that their relationship has evolved. Mentors may feel encouraged when they reflect on their relationship’s growth so far. In addition, support meetings are opportunities for program staff to provide insight to mentors on areas for improvement in their mentoring relationship and resources to address their challenges.
Brush up mentoring skills with training.
Even if a mentor completed mentoring training before they met with their mentee for the first time, they can still benefit from receiving training after they have established a relationship with their mentee. For example, Building and Maintaining the Relationship is a web-based, pre-match training that provides mentors with ideas, tips, and guidelines for deepening their relationship. Learning objectives of the program are particularly helpful for mentors around the mid-point of their relationship. For example, mentors learn how to build trust with their mentee, have fun with their mentee, establish collaboration skills within their match, and share decisions and responsibilities with their mentee.
Refocus on mentees’ goals.
Most matches set goals for the mentee early in their relationship, but it can be easy to lose sight of those goals after time has passed. Mentors should take time with their mentee to reassess their goals and modify them as needed, celebrate their achievements so far, and make concrete plans to work towards those goals moving forward. Maintaining focus on the mentee’s goals throughout the mentoring relationship is an important way to help the mentee benefit from the mentoring relationship and achieve more positive outcomes.
There are also specific goals that are helpful for mentors to focus on during the stage of the mentoring relationship between initiation and closure. Building Assets Together: A Guide for Youth Mentors, or the BAT Guide, describes goals for each stage of the mentoring relationship and provides mentors with practical ways that they can achieve those goals to promote growth in their relationship.
Get creative when planning match activities.
At the mid-point of their mentoring relationship, some matches may begin to feel that their match meetings or activities have become repetitive, which could cause the match to lose motivation to participate in their relationship. Planning fun, creative activities together could help matches prevent feeling burnt out. The BAT Guide provides examples of fun activities that mentors can suggest to their mentee to do together, so matches can keep their meetings exciting and impactful. Suggested activities in the Guide are not only designed to be fun but also to support specific goals of the mentoring relationship at different stages. The Guide helps mentors brainstorm activities to do with their mentee that allow their mentee to utilize and build upon their strengths.
If you are interested in helping mentors in your mentoring program navigate the mid-point of their mentoring relationships, consider offering the Building and Maintaining the Relationship training or Building Assets Together: A Guide for Youth Mentors to your mentors. Click here to get started.